diff --git a/libgnucash/engine/gncTaxTable.c b/libgnucash/engine/gncTaxTable.c
index 3cd689db5c..2e0cbfa907 100644
--- a/libgnucash/engine/gncTaxTable.c
+++ b/libgnucash/engine/gncTaxTable.c
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ GncTaxTableList * gncTaxTableGetTables (QofBook *book)
     if (!book) return NULL;
 
     bi = qof_book_get_data (book, _GNC_MOD_NAME);
-    return bi->tables;
+    return bi ? bi->tables : NULL;
 }
 
 const char *gncTaxTableGetName (const GncTaxTable *table)